The Career Planning of Female Intern Doctors and Their Specialty Preference

Abstract

Internship time is a prime time for doctors to decide on their future career planning. It should be decided based on liking, work-life balance, and other factors. This was a cross-sectional study on 92 female intern doctors at Sylhet Women’s Medical College Hospital, Sylhet, Bangladesh. Information was achieved by questionnaire. Data of preferred subjects in MBBS, preferred specialty selection, influencing factor, and preferred post-graduate degree were considered variables. A western degree (37.7%) was the most preferred, followed by a fellowship (26%). The most popular specialty was general surgery (29.3%), followed by obstetrics & gynaecology (OBG). Most participants (70%) decided on their own regarding future career planning. It is important to have a well-organized future career plan during the internship. Clinical subjects were preferable to basic subjects as a specialty. Western degrees were popular over national post-graduate degrees.